Self-adjusting water-gauge connection



March' 15, 1927. 4 I 1,620,692

W. RIGNEY SELF ADJUSTINKG WATER GAUGE CONNECTION Filed Deo. 5. 1924 1626 25 29 f2@ Mm j f gyn/vanto@ Wiliam ,/zl'gizey,

atto: 'WA4 Patented Mar. l5, 1927.

UNITED STATES .tezaez PATENT oEricE.

WILLIAM RIGNEY, or Inviiveroiv, NEW JERSEY.

SELF-ADJUSTING WATER-GAUGE CONNECTION.

Application filed December 5, 1924. Serial No. 754,077.

- eye judgment rather than by accurate measurement, the result being`that the axes of the tapped holes, with which the opposite ends ofavwater gauge are connected, are frequently disposed in either divergingo r converging directions, or else, the boiler |s tapped at pointsgreater or less than the distance required for the particular type otgauge. When this occurs, and when the water gauge is coupled at itsupper and lower ends with the boiler nipples, the water glass issubjected to lateral tension, with the result that'the glassris eitherbroken in the installation thereof, or becomes broken at some subsequenttime due, tov expansion or contraction. Furthermore, the glass underlateral tension kcan not be given a water and steam tight connection atits upper and f lower ends.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means of asimplified and improved construction whereby the water gauge may beproperly installed upon the boiler without danger of breakage oi theglass either in its installation or at subsequent times `from expansionor contraction, regardless of the fact that the boiler nipples may bedisposed at improper angl-es or improperly spaced apart.

A further object is to provide improved packing means in connection withwater gauges to compensate for inaccurate disposition of boiler nipples,and also to permit of the glass being properly applied and maintained inproper steam tight connect-ion without tension at its respective ends.

lith these objects in view, together with others which will appear asthe description u proceeds, the invention consists in the novelconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts, all as will bedescribed more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawing, andparticularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 4is a side elevation of a water gauge structure embodying myinvention, the connection between the gauge ends and the boiler nipplesbeing shown in section,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged end elevation of one of the improved packingmembers or gaskets,

y Fig. 8, is a vertical sectional view taken through thev said member,

Fig. 1 is a similar view of the cooperating packing element, and

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the element shown in Fig. 1.

The boiler `6 is tapped at 7 to receive the v nipples 8 to beconnected'to the gauge, and these nipples are carried by valves 9. ofthe ordinary construction and for purposes well known. The tapping ofthe boiler at inaccurate distances for the gauge to be used, or

with the taps disposed at improper angles, vcauses thenipples or pipes 8to be disposed at angles as illustrated, probably kin slightexaggeration, in the drawing. In the drawing, the position of the pipesor nipples y8, if the tapping otv the boiler was on a true center, isindicated by broken lines at A, `in order to more clearly show theinclination 'of the nipple.

The water gauge may comprise the usual upper and lower elbows 1() and11, between which extends the water glass 12, which is connected to thesaid elbows by steam tight packing glands, and the glass may be insertedthrough the upper elbow by removing the plug 13 carried thereby. Thelower elbow is equipped with the usual pet cock 141. The glass 12 isprotected by a series of rods 15 disposed parallel to the glass and con`nected at their ends to the flange members 16 arranged parallel to eachother upon the upper and lower elbows.

Each of said flange members is provided with an outstanding annular'boss17 concen tric with the opening in its respective elbow to communicatewith the water glass. Each boss has threaded exteriorly thereof apacking nut 18.

Each of the elbows 10 and 11 has an angun larly disposed pipe section 24thereby connected to the globe valve pipe or nipple carried by theboiler. The outer ends of said pipe portions are enlarged and arethreaded exteriorly as shown to receive the internally threaded nutmembers 25. Each of the an nular bosses 26 thus provided includes aninternal plane seat 27 surrounding the bore of the pipe, and whichreceives a member 22 of the cooperating packing. The cooperating packingmembers or elements comprises an annular member having an interiorpassage 2l, said member 2O is of substantially truste-conical formVaafidfis formed of a compressible material. The other element comprisesan annular member 22'having a central aperture and inclined Walls 23upon its interior, corresponding substantially to the inclination oftheexterior Walls of the element 20. The nut members 25 of the gland areloosely carried by the innerends of the nipple or globe valve pipes 8,and this inner end of the pipe has an out-turned flange 28 to retain thenut in position,` and to be 4engaged by the inwardly extending flange 29of the nut section 25. k'It Will be noted that the outer tace` of thenut member 25 defining the opening through Whichthe valve pipe extendsis bevel-led or cut away as at 30, permitting the said pipe and nut toassume various angular positions With respect to each other.

This construction permits of the boiler nipple members being connectedto the pipes 24 of the gauge lWith the assurance oi a steam andwatertightconnection regardiessotL angular variations Which may existbetween these members. By'tightening the nuts 25,tl1e flange 28 is drawninwardly against the packing element 20,forcing the inclined facethereol tightly against the similarly inclinedcooperating face ofelement 22, ythus Wedgi'ng these elements tightly together so asito beproof against leakage. The flexibilityv or pliability offthe packingpermits of this joint being properly effectedwithout-strain u ponthepipe mem* bers-24 ofthe'- gauge, andl Without danger of distortion ofthe gauge glass l2.

From. the foregoing it is apparent that I have provided packing elementsfor use in connection -vvith `Water gauges and gauge mountings which areof extremely simple constructien,:whichl may be assembled properlyWithout the exercise of special skill or knowledge, and whichWilflffaccoinplish the desired 'resuits in/ -a -facilef manner.

IHaving thus described my invention, I claim:

'In' `an vadjnstablei union fora' vwater lgauge structure,l pipesections approximately -alined with each other, the section 'adjacentthe gaugehaving afau'cet end: provided Withfa 'cylindrical' counterboredefining a piane seat surface, the other 'pipe section having a angedspigot-fend presenting a plane end face, apair of'ccmpressible packingelements nested in the said counterboreand presenting complementaryconical abutting surfaces and plane"end"'surtaees,'and a 'union netengaging said 'faucet end, and having an end flange embracing the lrear"of the flange on the fspigotend to clamp the'latter into sli'ding'engagement vWitlrtl'ieplane end surface of the 'outer packing element.

Intesti-Inony whereof I 'havesigned my name-'tethisspeciicatien. v

WILLIAM RIGNEY.

